IACP News 08-26-2014

No-Cost Training Opportunities and Police-Community Relations Summit

NEWS FROM THE FIELD

NIJ and FBI Team Up to Test Sexual Assault Kits

Addressing the issues surrounding the testing of sexual assault kits (SAKs) is one of the most complex challenges facing the U.S. criminal justice system. What kinds of kits are not sent to the lab for testing? Once at the lab, what are the most effective ways to test and track them?

To help find the best strategies, methods and procedures for dealing with SAKs, the FBI and NIJ have formed a research partnership to develop improved practices and policies for law enforcement and crime labs.

State and local law enforcement agencies will submit their eligible SAKs to the FBI, and NIJ will gather facts and data about the processing of the cases. The goal is to develop more effective tools and strategies for evaluating the methods and procedures now used, improve practices, and inform future policies and decisions.

The FBI will enter eligible DNA profiles into the National DNA Index System (NDIS), a component of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Experts believe that increasing the number of profiles in CODIS will increase the potential to solve other crimes.

Law enforcement agencies across the United States are joining in the newest way to raise money for diseases and issues they consider important.

Officers and staff are getting drenched in ice water to raise awareness (and money) for ALS, autism, the Officer Down Memorial page, and other important causes, and challenging their peers to do the same.

Drunk driving related deaths on U.S. highways know no boundaries. That's why state police from Alabama and Tennessee—as well as Madison County and Lincoln County, Tennessee, Sheriff's offices—are teaming up this weekend and over the next three weeks for a high-visibility campaign known as Hands Across Borders.

Leading up to Labor Day weekend on Sept. 1, they'll be focusing on DUIs, seat belt violations and distracted driving. Their ultimate goal: to keep the number of DUI-related deaths on U.S. state highways and rural roads to zero.

On Friday, August 22, 2014, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) released two draft documents related to Mobile License Plate Reader Systems (LPR) used by criminal justice agencies for a 45-day public comment period.

Individuals wishing to obtain and provide comments on the draft documents under consideration are directed to the Federal Register notice. https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-19977 Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 6, 2014.

Aimed to set law enforcement and survivors up for the best possible judicial outcomes, End Violence Against Women International (EVAWI) is hosting a one-hour webinar, "Effective Report Writing: Using the Language of Non-consensual Sex," on Sunday, November 16, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. (EST). The training is designed to aid and guide law enforcement on how to write a report that not only will detail necessary information to combat potential defense strategies, but also increase the likelihood of successful prosecution of the sexual assault.

Retired sergeant and executive director of EVAWI Joanne Archambault will lead the webinar, discussing the best ways to preserve the exact descriptive words of the survivor, describe the individual's feelings during the attack, employ the language of non-consensual sex, and note the entirety of the context of the victim's force, threat, or fear.

INSIDE IACP

To support the integration of evidence-based research into police operations, the National Institute of Justice is funding 10 need-based practitioner scholarships for mid-rank law enforcement officers to attend the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference and Expo on October 25–29, 2014.

This scholarship program is for mid-level career police professionals with demonstrated experience partnering with academic-based or other researchers to implement research initiatives in their departments.

Scholarship recipients will be given full access to IACP conference workshops and the exhibit hall in addition to an exclusive educational program designed by NIJ and the IACP Research Advisory Committee. The scholarships are all-inclusive, covering the cost of travel, conference registration, per diem expenses and accommodations.